Athletic Training Program in Eau Claire

If you are a physically active athlete in a youth, high school, or college setting, our athletic trainers can help you by providing immediate injury care, follow-up injury treatment, prevention education, and rehabilitative services.

Our staff can be found throughout the Chippewa Valley and surrounding communities, providing care at those schools as well as working hand-in-hand with our orthopedics and sports medicine providers. 

Find out more about athletic training:

• What is an athletic trainer? 
• About athletic training
• Community event coverages
• Concussion guidelines
• High school outreach
• Impact testing
• What to do in the event of an injury

What is an athletic trainer?

Athletic trainers (ATs) are multi-skilled healthcare professionals who collaborate with physicians to provide preventive services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions.

More than 70 percent of athletic trainers have at least a master’s degree and received formal instruction in:

• Assessment of injury/illness
• First aid and emergency care
• Human anatomy and physiology
• Injury/illness prevention
• Nutrition
• Rehabilitation
• Therapeutic modalities

All of our athletic trainers are:

• Certified by the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC)
• Licensed with the Wisconsin Board of Medical Practice
• Members of the National Athletic Trainers Association
• Members of the Wisconsin Athletic Trainers Association

Classroom learning is enhanced through clinical education experiences. Visit the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) for more information about the athletic training profession.

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About athletic training

Our athletic trainers provide the following services across the region:

• Clinical support to our orthopedic physician teams and general patient care.
• Educational programs for teams, parents, coaches, and community members.
• Industrial program opportunities (future state).
• Injury prevention services catered to a team's specific needs.
• On-site medical coverage for events and team practice and competition.
• Sports-related concussion evaluation and management, including ImPACT baseline and SWAY balance testing.

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Community event coverages

Our team of athletic trainers can service your community athletic event, competition or tournament. Services we provide include:   

• Coordinate care and referrals to Mayo Clinic Health System concussion program, physical therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine.
• Emergency action plan development, supported by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).
• Evaluation, treatment, management and follow-up of acute and chronic injuries.
• Healthy Roster — HIPAA compliant electronic medical record that allows for collaboration in athlete status updates with athletic trainers, parents, athletes, coaching staff, and school administration.
• Injury prevention and education to athletes, coaching staff, and school administration.
• Prophylactic taping as needed.

Services provided are in the scope of practice for an athletic trainer, as well as facilitation of medical care for urgent and nonurgent needs beyond the scope of an athletic trainer. 

Services will be subject to fair market value for athletic training service in the Chippewa Valley region, and billed on an hourly basis or other contracted amounts determined.

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Concussion guidelines

Parents, coaches and children involved in school-sponsored athletics and youth sports are required by Wisconsin state law to receive concussion-related information on the signs, symptoms, and risks of sports.

The law also provides that parents, coaches, and athletes sign a statement declaring they have received and understand the information. This information will be shared with all students and their families participating in Healthy Roster.

Concussion links:

• WIAA Concussion Policy
• Wisconsin Act 172: Youth Athlete Concussion Law
• National Federation of State High School Associations: Suggested Guidelines for Management of Concussion in Sports

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High school outreach

The Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Program in Eau Claire can provide event coverage and regular visits to your school during practice, or as determined by the contracting school administration.  

Our team of athletic trainers can provide the following services to high school and college athletes: 

• Annual concussion, functional, baseline and general medical evaluation and assessment, including ImPACT baseline and SWAY balance testing.
• Coordinate care and referrals to Mayo Clinic Health System concussion program, physical therapy, orthopedics and sports medicine.
• Emergency action plan development, supported by the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA).
• Evaluation, treatment, management and follow-up of acute and chronic injuries.
• Healthy Roster — HIPAA compliant electronic medical record that allows for collaboration in athlete status updates with athletic trainers, parents, athletes, coaching staff, and school administration.
• Injury prevention and education to athletes, coaching staff, and school administration.
• On-site medical coverage for events and team practice and competition.
• Support of internal strength conditioning and performance activities.
  • We are able to provide additional performance training in collaboration with physical therapy as requested.

Coverage provided is based on sport-specific injury rates, injury potential, regional coverage rates, and as schedule allows.

 Email or call Jeremy Amundson at 715-838-6453 for more information. You can also view the athletic trainer schedule (PDF). 

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Impact testing

We utilize ImPACT applications to provide baseline and post-injury testing for individuals age 5-80 years old. ImPACT stands for Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing, and is an objective tool to support trained healthcare providers in making sound return-to-activity decisions following a concussion. ImPACT testing provides an objective measure of verbal and visual learning and memory, processing speed, reaction time, and attention.

ImPACT has two primary uses:

• Before the onset of an activity, a baseline test is conducted to measure the athlete’s performance baseline.
• In the event of an injury, a post-injury test is administered and compared to the baseline and/or normative data scores.

Baseline testing

Ideally, baseline testing is completed prior to the start of an athletic season or before a concussion occurs. If the athlete or patient sustains a concussion, post-injury ImPACT results can be compared to their baseline scores. Mayo Clinic Health System recommends baseline testing for all athletes. Post-injury ImPACT tests can still be useful without baseline data because of normative data to compare to.

Baseline and post-injury tests should always be administered and interpreted by healthcare providers trained in the use of the test and concussion management. Mayo Clinic recommends baseline testing middle school and high school athletes every one to two years, depending on neurological development and injury history. NCAA athletes are required to complete annual  testing.

Scheduling a baseline test

All schools will have the opportunity to complete annual baseline testing at their school through our athletic training services agreement. The cost of each test is $20.

• Testing for athletes ages 12-80 are performed on a desktop computer. At-home baselines can be shared and coordinated via a virtual visit.
• Testing for athletes ages 5-11 are performed on an iPad.

Athletes and parents will meet with an ImPACT-trained athletic trainer (ITAT) to discuss the following:

• Administration of the test
• Brief review of the results and what they mean
• Discussion on concussion recognition, management, and resources
• Medical history

Call us to schedule your appointment today!

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What to do in the event of an injury

Your child's coach or athletic director will know the athletic trainer that's assigned to your child and how to contact him or her in the event of an injury/ If your child's injury is minor one day, but gets worse the next, call your athletic trainer or schedule an appointment via the Healthy Roster application. The athletic trainer can help determine what type of visit or medical care is advised. 

If there is concern of significant injury or issue, seek medical care as soon as possible. Inform the provider that your child is an athlete at a Mayo Clinic-covered high school so that the necessary release of information can be completed and communication can be sent to your athletic trainer.

If athletes are seen by a physician, contact the athletic training staff so they can facilitate communication between the physician and coaches to assure proper treatment and return-to-play guidelines are met. A written release will be required from the physician to their coach or athletic trainer in order to return to participation. This release is a Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) requirement, and is the only documentation that confirms a student athlete is cleared to participate.

Injuries that occur at school

Injuries that occur at school, practice, or games should be reported to school personnel, athletic trainers and coaching staff as soon as possible so that an injury report can be filed. Our athletic trainers will evaluate the injury and decide on the most appropriate plan of action, treatment or referral. 

Injuries that occur on the road

If the athletic trainer isn't present at the game, the athlete or parent should report the injury to the coach immediately. If an athletic trainer is present, report the injury and name of your athletic trainer to the opposing team's athletic trainer and your coach.

The opposing team's athletic trainers can provide basic medical care as needed, and make final return-to-play decisions. Injuries reported by coaches or parents via Healthy Roster will be followed up on in less than 24 hours by your athletic trainer.

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